Prof John Synnott publishes White Paper on Serious and Organised Crime
The University of Huddersfield’s Professor John Synnott has published an important intelligence White Paper, “Refreshing the Approach to Intelligence: Building the Foundations for Effective SOC Policing”.
The publication captures key insights, challenges, and future priorities identified during a round table event that was held during the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Home Office Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Local Conference, held at the University earlier this year.
The roundtable, established and coordinated by Professor Synnott as part of the SOC Local Conference, was chaired by Steve Jupp KPM, Chief Constable at the Ministry of Defence Sovereign Base Areas Police in Cyprus and former NPCC Lead for Serious and Organised Crime.
The event brought together senior leaders from UK policing and international partners to examine the evolving SOC landscape and pressures facing forces at local, regional, national, and international levels.
The White Paper includes a foreword from Deputy Chief Constable Dave McLaren, NPCC Strategic Lead for Intelligence, who in endorsing the report emphasised the urgency of strengthening intelligence functions across policing.
Professor Synnott and Deputy Director Prof Maria Ioannou explore the history of Investigative Psychology, the embedded-researcher model, and new developments within Defence and Security, in a podcast from Times Higher Education
Steve Jupp KPM commented, “Serious and Organised Crime is ever evolving, and those who perpetrate such crimes are agile and imaginative in their methodology.
"If we are to keep pace and protect our communities, we must constantly listen, learn and evolve. Working together with colleagues across the spectrum of law enforcement and Accademia is vital to achieve our aim of protecting victims and detecting crime. This white paper importantly supports those aims and gives focus and direction for the challenges ahead."
• Intelligence is vital for tackling SOC but remains undervalued
• Threats, including AI-enabled crime, green-economy exploitation and fraud, are at risk of outpacing capacity
• Blind spots and collaboration barriers persist, particularly around data sharing, international liaison and private-sector access
• Senior leaders agreed policing must shift to intelligence-led, long-term strategic planning rather than short-term activity
“This White Paper reflects a highly engaged and thoughtful discussion among senior leaders who are guiding teams at the heart of response to Serious and Organised Crime.
"Intelligence was never intended to be the central theme of the roundtable, yet it emerged naturally and powerfully throughout the discussions.
"The message was clear; policing must reinvigorate both the practice of capturing intelligence effectively and the culture that underpins it.
“I am grateful to all who contributed and proud that the University of Huddersfield can support this important national conversation. I look forward to reconvening this event in April 2026 to build on the momentum we have created.”
Reflecting on the central intelligence theme, D/Supt Andrew Farrell, NPCC SOC Local Lead, noted: “Intelligence is the lifeblood of modern policing. In an era where serious and organised crime evolves at unprecedented speed, effective information sharing is not just beneficial, it is mission-critical.
"This white paper brings together the collective insight of key stakeholders to set out what policing requires to maintain pace with a rapidly shifting SOC landscape. It provides strategic focus, clear direction and tangible opportunities to strengthen and future-proof our law-enforcement response.”
The Intelligence White Paper is now publicly available and will support ongoing discussions within the NPCC, local forces, and cross-agency partnerships focused on improving SOC intelligence and analytical capability.
The University of Huddersfield has again been selected to host the NPCC/Home Office SOC Local Conference in April 2026, where a follow-up roundtable will continue this important national work.
White Paper ties in with Professional Doctoral Academy
This work forms part of the wider programme delivered by the Professional Doctoral Academy (PDA) at the University of Huddersfield, an embedded practitioner-research environment that supports senior professionals across policing, local government, and Defence to undertake research of strategic importance to their organisations.
The Academy currently supports over 50 candidates studying at Masters by Research and PhD level, drawn from the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and South East Asia.
For further information, please contact PDA Executive Officer Ms Sandra Hirst here.
International Partners
- Kuwait Ministry of Interior – Crime and Security Office, Kuwait Embassy London
- Abu Dhabi Police Attaché (UAE)
- An Garda Síochána (Ireland) – National Criminal Intelligence Unit
- Spanish Civil Guard – Ministry of the Interior (Spain)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands)
UK National Bodies
UK Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs)
UK Police Forces